Scotland Act 1998

Section 22.

SCHEDULE 3 Standing orders – further provision

Preservation of order

1 (1) The standing orders shall include provision for preserving order in the proceedings of the Parliament, including provision for—

(a) preventing conduct which would constitute a criminal offence or contempt of court, and

(b) a sub judice rule.

(2) Such provision may provide for excluding a member of the Parliament from proceedings.

Withdrawal of rights and privileges

2 The standing orders may include provision for withdrawing from a member of the Parliament his rights and privileges as a member.

Proceedings to be in public

3 (1) The standing orders shall include provision requiring the proceedings of the Parliament to be held in public, except in such circumstances as the standing orders may provide.

(2) The standing orders may include provision as to the conditions to be complied with by any member of the public attending the proceedings, including provision for excluding from the proceedings any member of the public who does not comply with those conditions.

Reporting and publishing proceedings

4 The standing orders shall include provision for reporting the proceedings of the Parliament and for publishing the reports.

The Presiding Officer and deputies

5 The standing orders shall include provision for ensuring that the Presiding Officer and deputies do not all represent the same political party.

Committees

6 (1) Standing orders which provide for the appointment of committees may include provision for those committees to have power to appoint sub-committees.

(2) The standing orders shall include provision for ensuring that, in appointing members to committees and sub-committees, regard is had to the balance of political parties in the Parliament.

(3) The standing orders may include provision for excluding from the proceedings of a committee or sub-committee a member of the Parliament who is not a member of the committee or sub-committee.

Crown interests

7 The standing orders shall include provision for ensuring that a Bill containing provisions which would, if the Bill were a Bill for an Act of Parliament, require the consent of Her Majesty, the Prince and Steward of Scotland or the Duke of Cornwall shall not pass unless such consent has been signified to the Parliament.